NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4114A
SPONSOR: Butler TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law and the penal
law, in relation to allowing body piercing and tattooing with parental
or guardian consent for persons under the age of eighteen
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To prohibit an owner, operator or
employee of a body piercing or tattoo studio from permitting this activ-
ity on a person under eighteen years of age unless a parent or guardian
provides written consent.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Amends the public health law by adding
a new section 460-a to prohibit any owner, operator or employee of a
body piercing studio or tattoo studio from permitting body piercing or
tattooing on a person under eighteen years of age unless such person
provides the studio with the written consent of a parent or legal guard-
ian to use the studio for tattooing or piercing purposes. The original
written consent form shall be prescribed by the commissioner and shall
be retained by the studio for 12 months.
JUSTIFICATION: Millions of teenagers get pierced each year and many
experience adverse health effects from these piercings without their
parents' knowledge. The needles used can sometimes result in a severe
viral infection and immense discomfort. It is important that parents
understand these potential risks and that teens are proactive in retain-
ing their parents' or guardian's consent to have such piercing done.
Although many studios already require written consent, there is nothing
in place dictating that they must and many fail to utilize proper steri-
lization techniques.
Similarly, tattooing is also popular amongst teens and many times, they
can suffer from skin irritations, adverse reactions from the injectable
ink and other health complications. It is important that every parent,
guardian and teenager educate themselves as much as possible and take
the proper precautions before tattooing as well.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A6336 (2008) A5154 (2009)
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: None.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This bill shall take effect immediately.
